A man was injured following a shooting incident at the Civic Center MetroLink transit station in downtown St. Louis yeterday. A report by 5 On Your Side indicated that the shooting occurred around 11:18 a.m. in the vicinity of South 14th Street, near the Enterprise Center and outside the secured platform area.
Initial details about the incident suggest that the altercation began as a verbal exchange between the victim and suspect that quickly to escalate into violence. The victim, reportedly shot in the leg, was conscious and breathing when emergency services transported him to the hospital, as noted by a FOX 2 News update.
Shortly after the incident, the suspect surrendered himself to the police, also turning over a firearm. Officials have confirmed the suspect is now in custody and an investigation is underway, as reported by First Alert 4. St. Louis Police Department spokesperson Mitch McCoy provided insights into the context of the shooting, stating, "Officers were able to review some video, and it appears the victim and suspect were engaged in some type of conversation prior to shots being fired," in a statement obtained by 5 On Your Side.
The Civic Center MetroLink platform, while not the direct location of the shooting, is equipped with new security upgrades which include surveillance cameras and controlled access gates. Metro Transit Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Security Kevin Scott made clear the agency's position on such incidents, declaring, "The message I want to send out today is that if you're stupid enough to indulge yourself with using our system to create peril in someone's life or as a mode of transportation to create peril in someone's life, you have my guarantee that we will capture you," as he told 5 On Your Side. He also noted that incidents have been reduced by 60% at those secured stations.
